Breaking News: Tony-Winning MEMPHIS to Close on Broadway August 5; West End Production Coming Soon

The producers of the 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced tonight that the production will play its final performance on Broadway on Sunday, August 5, 2012 after 30 previews and 1,166 regular performances. MEMPHIS opened on October 19, 2009 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street), having begun previews on September 23rd.

"The level of love and commitment exhibited by all the members of our company from La Jolla to Seattle to Broadway has been matched only by the enthusiasm of our magnificently ardent fans," producer Sue Frost said. "For us, this kind of reciprocity represents the heart of live theatre. On behalf of the entire producing team, management team, creative team, the cast, crew, staff of the Shubert Theater, and all who have helped MEMPHIS to make its mark on Broadway, we say thank you."

MEMPHIS launched its successful multi-city U. S. national tour in Memphis, TN, which opened to critical acclaim on October 16, 2011 at the historic Orpheum Theatre. It has been playing to packed houses ever since and recently announced its second year. Planning is underway for a West End production of MEMPHIS. More details will be announced soon.

MEMPHIS takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50's, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun (Adam Pascal) fell in love with everything he shouldn't: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer (Montego Glover). MEMPHIS is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever.

The show features a brand new, Tony winning score with music by Bon Jovi's founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Tony-winner Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), who also pens the musical's book. Bryan and DiPietro also collaborated on the award-winning off-Broadway hit, The Toxic Avenger. MEMPHIS is based on a concept by the late George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce and the film My Dinner With Andre), with direction by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo, (Jersey Boys, Next to Normal).

MEMPHIS played a limited, sold-out engagement at La Jolla Playhouse from August 19 – September 28, 2008 and received San Diego's Craig Noel Awards for Excellence in Theatre for both Outstanding New Musical of 2008 and for its star Chad Kimball, in the role of DJ Huey Calhoun. The show then played another critically-acclaimed, extremely successful engagement at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre from January 27 – February 15, 2009. This production was co-produced by La Jolla Playhouse (Christopher Ashley, Artistic Director) and 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA, (David Armstrong, Producing Artistic Director/ Marilynn Sheldon, Managing Director). The world premiere of MEMPHIS in 2003-2004 was co-produced by North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA and TheatreWorks in Silicon Valley, CA.

Blu-ray™, DVD and digital downloads of the HD film of MEMPHIS were released on January 24, 2012 by Shout! Factory, in association with Broadway Worldwide. Featuring the original Broadway cast, MEMPHIS is the first Best Musical Tony Award winner to be filmed and distributed while running on Broadway. Special Features on the DVD will include "Behind The Scenes: How Memphis Was Captured." The HD film is also currently available for instant streaming on Netflix. The Original Broadway Cast Recording of MEMPHIS, distributed by Rhino Records, is available for purchase at all retail outlets including www.rhino.com, as well as at the Shubert Theater. The collection contains 19 songs and a bonus track/acoustic version of "The Music of My Soul" with piano and vocals by Tony Award winning composer David Bryan.

Scenic Design for MEMPHIS is by Tony Award winner David Gallo (The Drowsy Chaperone, The Mountaintop), Costume Design is by Tony nominee Paul Tazewell (In The Heights), Lighting Design is by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (How to Succeed…, Jersey Boys) and Sound Design is by Ken Travis (The Threepenny Opera).